Riding your bike: Good Idea. Riding like these guys: Bad Idea!
I cannot think of a greener method of transportation than using your own power to get yourself around. Whether walking, running or pedaling, not only are you not emitting, your also getting good excercise. Granted, this time of the year in many areas, riding a bike is a bit more difficult (just ask Sebastian). But, if you are going to go without your car, at least be careful out there! Don't ride anything like these guys!
These are bike messengers in New York. I have heard about them before, but this is the first I have seen them on video. One word: CRAZY.
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
beeri 5:04PM (2/15/2007)
Looks like in NYC biking is not only green and good exercise.... it's also the FASTEST way to go.
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spdracerut 1:17PM (2/15/2007)
Crazy... but time is money! Being a bike messegner is highly dangerous for little pay and pretty much no benefits. But I suppose it's fun! Assuming you don't get killed. There was one in San Francisco that was run over and dragged by a bus for a good 100m a while back. Every job has its good and bad sides I guess....
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Byron Cox 5:35PM (2/15/2007)
I tried the green route riding my bike back and forth to work, a round trip of about 20k's. It was great until I got hit by an SUV. Damaged my shoulder, slight concussion, scraped my side. I was lucky. The driver was talking on his cell phone. My point is that I have refused to commute anymore until legislation is passed banning cell phone use while driving. In Singapore, you are fined $1000 (correct) if you are caught talking on your cell phone. Wish that applied here in Canada in the province of British Columbia.
Thanks for reading my rant.
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MikeW 2:38PM (2/15/2007)
They better like forearm to the face and the taste of aphalt, if they try to run me down in a crosswalk.
There were a bunch of these people who take the front brakes off their bikes. I don't remember the last time I saw a motorcycle do a stoppie via the rear brakes.
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apple_box 9:12PM (2/15/2007)
I was a bike messenger in Manhattan about 10 years ago. I've seen guys like this on the road and while they get all the attention both positive and negative for messengers they are not the majority. Most messengers only break the line of traffic when safe as a jaywalker would. And yes I know bikes are governed by the same general laws as motor vehicles. I've yet to see or hear of jaywalking tickets being handed out en-mass. Think of it this way bike messengers or a rats nest of pneumatic tubes running from building to building. And no you can't fax everything.
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Eliot 6:07PM (2/15/2007)
That and being almost run over by one in a cross-walk I don't know why anyone would give them anymore credit than a shitty driver.
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George Krpan 7:57PM (2/15/2007)
Looks like they're having a ball. I don't think they're going as fast as it looks, though.
It's like surfing in Hawaii. If you know what you're doing it's not as dangerous as it looks, but if you don't, you could die.
Here's an instance where it's much faster to get around on a bike than in a car.
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Jankdc 9:25PM (2/15/2007)
Thanks! Brought back memories. I was a messenger in Philadelphia in the late 80's. I'd have to agree with apple_box, though there was alway a rivalry with the taxis. While I want to say it wasn't dagerous, I can't. A friend of mine was crushed under a truck. At the same time, I know of more people that were killed in car crashes.
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davidt70 7:41AM (2/16/2007)
Great thing about bike messengers is that alot of them use single speed bikes with no brakes- more thrilling! What is the soundtrack for this, i love it
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pitranger 7:49AM (2/16/2007)
I can't help wishing that these A-Holes would get toe tagged and bagged doing this crap. How many walkers and drivers had the crap scared out of them when these dip-sticks pulled thru? How many accidents do they contribute to? If I was driving here and had the chance to nail one of these sh*t heads with a bumper I would do it in a heartbeat.
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Manu Sharma 1:42PM (2/16/2007)
Ha ha. Loved it. If you've ever been to a developing country...this is how *everyone* drives around here. I've seen my foreigners say the same when they watch the traffic here..."crazy".
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